Germantown Friends School celebrated its annual Classics Day on Feb. 28, an all-day event devoted to experiential learning about the Classical world through activities such as a debate in a Roman senate, a ceremonial Greek sacrifice and a Mediterranean feast.

Latin and Greek students in grades seven through twelve, dressed in Greek and Roman costumes, kicked off the festivities with a Triumph through campus, led by Apollo and his fellow Gods and Goddesses.

The morning culminated in the Aloysius B. McCabe ’45 Classics Lecture given by C. Brian Rose, professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania and curator-in-charge of the Mediterranean section of the University Museum.

Rose presented archeological evidence for the Trojan War and shared his personal stories about excavations at the ancient ruins of Troy.

“I’m going to give you the greatest hits of my last 25 years of my excavations at Troy,” he told the students. “At the forefront of everyone’s mind when they excavate at Troy is whether or not what they’re excavating has anything to do, either pro or con, with the theories of the Trojan War.

Head of the GFS Classics Department Julie Marren considers the event the best day of the year for her students.

“They benefit from reenacting events and rituals from Greek and Roman life, enriching their understanding of what they read in class,” she explained. “The younger students see how accomplished the older students are – and see where their studies can take them.”